Admissions Portfolio
For some majors, submitting a portfolio of your work is a required step in the admissions process; other majors offer the opportunity to submit a portfolio to support your application. Submitting a portfolio is strongly encouraged, even if it is not required.
Portfolios Can Help Your Application
The purpose of the portfolio submission is to evaluate your development as a creator and assess your ability to thrive in the program you’ve selected.
- A portfolio submission is required for Game Art.
- Portfolio submissions are strongly encouraged for Animation, Creative Media, Filmmaking, Game Design, and Graphic Design & Visual Communication.
All Game Art applicants must submit a portfolio with their application and transcripts by the application deadline in order to receive an admission decision by the release date. All other applicants may choose to submit portfolios at any time.
All portfolio submissions will be reviewed by the faculty of each respective major. Please upload your portfolio to the major in Slideroom that corresponds to the one for which you are applying for admission.
Majors that Require Portfolio Submissions
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Game Art (BFA)
Required submission: work that demonstrates skill, visual aesthetics, artistic practice, subject matter, and art appreciation.
Majors with Optional Portfolio Submissions
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Animation (BFA)
Strongly encouraged: artwork that demonstrates your skills as a visual artist and your passion for creating artwork in traditional and digital media.
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Creative Media (BFA)
Strongly encouraged: work that demonstrates your creative process, sources of inspiration, and goals.
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Filmmaking (BFA)
Strongly encouraged: work that demonstrates your ability to portray an engaging story or idea through video, writing, or photography.
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Game Design (BS)
Strongly encouraged: playable work that shows how you think as a game designer and how your ideas function when they are played.
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Graphic Design & Visual Communication (BFA)
Strongly encouraged: work that shows your observational drawing skills, creativity, visual communication and concepts.
Application Deadlines
| Application Type | Application Dates | Decision Release Date* |
|---|---|---|
| Early Decision | November 15, 2026 | mid-December 2026 |
| Early Action | December 15, 2026 | early January 2027 |
| Regular Decision | January 9, 2027 | late January 2027 |
| Transfer | Rolling | Rolling |
All deadlines are 11:59 PM (Eastern Standard Time)
Decisions are released online only. To view your decision, sign into your Application Dashboard. Don’t have one? Create your account.
*Decision release dates are contingent on receiving all requisite application materials by the stated deadlines, including transcripts and portfolios, if required.
**Certain majors are not eligible for Spring enrollment.
More Inside How to Apply
Animation Portfolio Instructions
A portfolio is strongly encouraged but not required: Students should focus on demonstrating the depth of their artistic talent — quality is preferred over quantity.
Creative Media Portfolio Instructions
A portfolio is strongly recommended but not required: You can demonstrate your readiness through a combination of creative works and a written statement.
Filmmaking Portfolio Instructions
A portfolio is strongly recommended but not required: You should submit work that shows your creative spark, ideas, and the passion you want to share with the world.
Game Art Portfolio Instructions
A portfolio is required: Students should focus on demonstrating the depth of their artistic talent.
Game Design Portfolio Instructions
A portfolio is strongly recommended but not required: Submissions should focus on original, playable design work that shows how you think as a designer and how your ideas function when they are played.
Graphic Design & Visual Communication Portfolio Instructions
A portfolio is strongly recommended but not required: Students should focus on demonstrating their observational drawing skills, creativity, visual communication, and concepts.